Apparatus for near infrared quantitative analysis with temperature variation correction

ABSTRACT

A near infrared quantitative analysis instrument provides for correction of wide temperature variations in unground cereal grain sample by providing a thermistor to measure the temperature of the sample and utilizing this measurement as an additional variable in multiple regression equations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in instruments for accomplishing near infrared quantitative analysis and particularly for improvements for correcting for wide temperature variations of sample measured by such instruments.

2. Prior Art

Near infrared quantitative analysis instruments are known and useful. Such instruments known in the prior art make use of the phenomenon that certain organic substances absorb energy in the near infrared region of the spectrum. By measuring the amount of energy absorbed by the substances at specific wavelengths, precise quantitative measurements of the constituents of a product can be determined. For example, protein and moisture analysis in cereal grain can be determined by such instruments. For a general introduction to near infrared quantitative analysis, see the paper presented by Robert D. Rosenthal to the 1977 annual meeting of American Association of Cereal Chemists entitled "An Introduction to Near Infrared Quantitative Analysis".

While not prior art, attention is also directed to the prior application of Robert D. Rosenthal and Scott Rosenthal entitled "Apparatus for Near Infrared Quantitative Analysis" assigned to the assignee of this invention, Ser. No. 73,965, filed Sept. 10, 1979 , now U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,327, including its disclosure and the prior art cited therein.

Some prior art near infrared quantative analysis instruments which measure cereal grain require the grain sample to be ground into small particles. It is highly desirable to be able to measure and analyze a sample of products without the need for grinding the sample.

However, one serious problem results from attempting measurement by near infrared quantitative analysis of unground sample, if the sample is subject to widely varying ambient temperature. This is due to temperature effects on the absorption wavelengths being measured. In the prior art near infrared instruments (e.g., of the reflected type) where a grinder was necessary to pulverize the sample prior to measurement, the grinding effectively heated the sample to a constant temperature that was independent of the ambient temperature. Thus, when the ground sample was inserted into the prior art near infrared instruments, the sample was essentially at a constant temperature.

Near infrared quantitative analysis instruments are used quite often to measure the protein or moisture of grain in an out-of-doors location and the temperature may vary from as low as -70° F., (e.g. in the winter in Winnepeg, Canada), to as high was 140° F. (e.g., in the outback in Australia). This very broad temperature range of samples would cause great inaccuracies in measurement of consitituents of the products such as unground grain. This is because the moisture absorption wavelengths on which the instruments rely shifts significantly with temperature and thus measurement of all the constituents (for example, protein, oil and moisture) is greatly influenced by this shift in moisture absorption peak.

This effect is true on measurements in the 1000 nm range (where measurements of this inventions' commercial embodiment are made) as well as other absorption bands including the 1800-2500 nm band, where the prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,642 is applicable.

Of course measurement of the temperature of sample is a common place occurrance in laboratory instruments. Typical temperature measurement devices include therocouples, thermopiles and other temperature measuring means that usually use the change in electrical property of a sample to measure the sample temperature. In the past, however, near infrared quantitative analysis instruments only used optical measurements. They have never previously combined more than one type of basic measurement, that is, to applicant's knowledge, the prior art never combined optical measurement with temperature measurement and compensation connection in near infrared quantitative analysis instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides for correction for wide temperature variations of a sample to be analyzed by near infrared instrumentation. It accomplishes this result by utilizing a thermistor inserted into the product sample which provides a measurement of the product temperature. This output of the thermistor is then utilized as one additional variable in multiple regression equations with optical data provided by the near infrared instrument. By combining direct temperature measurement of the sample with optical data from the infrared absorption of the sample in the multiple regression equations highly accurate measurements of protein and moisture have been achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the near infrared quantitative analysis instrument of this invention including the electrical circuitry therefor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the combined signal from the thermistor and optical sensor for one cycle of operation.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the effect of sample temperature on the optical readings.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the effect of the temperature correction utilizing this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 a sample holding means 10 can be any form of suitable chamber having at least a portion thereof transparent to infrared energy such as windows 12 and 14. A sample S to be analyzed may be unground cereal grain. This sample is contained within the holding chamber 10 during the measurement. A suitable gate (not shown) is positioned below the sample to stop the sample in the chamber during measurement and expel the sample from the chamber following measurement.

A plurality of infrared emitting diodes (IREDs) 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 are positioned so that when sequentially pulsed they will emit their illumination or infrared energy through individual narrow bandpass filters 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34. Suitable shields such as baffles 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 shield the individual IREDs and filters. Each narrow bandpass filter yields one of the specified wavelengths required for the quantitative analysis. For further reference as to the operation of these pulsed IREDs and narrow bandpass filters see the application of Rosenthal et al. Ser. No. 73,965 filed Sept. 10, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,327.

The temperature of the sample S that is being measured is sensed by a thermistor 48 positioned within the holding chamber 10 in contact with the sample. The temperature is sensed one or more times per IRED sequential cycle.

A timer 50 is connected to the individual IREDs 16-24 to sequentially pulse them and the timer is also connected to a switch 52 to allow measurement of the temperature at least once per IRED cycle sequence. The timer itself is controlled from a micro computer 54.

The optical energy transmitted through the sample S by each of sequenced IREDs is quantitatively detected by a photovoltaic sensor 56. The output of the sensor is then amplified in amplifier 58 and fed to the switch 52.

The output of the thermistor is also amplified in amplifier 60 and fed to the switch 52. The circuit from the switch 52 to the microcomputer 54 includes an analog-to-digital converter 61 to convert the signal to digital form for entry into the micro computer 54.

FIG. 2 shows a cycle of signals which are fed to the micro computer. Pulses a, b, c, d and e are those read by the photovoltaic sensor 56 as a result of the infrared energy from each of the pulsed IREDs transmitted through the narrow bandpass filters which is not absorbed by the sample. The thermistor output is pulse f. This cycle of pulses shown in FIG. 2 is accomplished by causing switch 52 to obtain the temperature reading once each cycle. The micro computer 54 combines the data with previously derived regression co-efficient to provide quantitative results, i.e., percent protein on a digital display 62.

The formula for determining percent protein in cereal grain in a typical near infrared instrument without temperature correction is as follows.

    % protein=k.sub.o +k.sub.1 (OD).sub.1, +k.sub.2 (OD).sub.2 + . . . +k.sub.n (OD).sub.n                                                (1)

where k₀, k₁, . . . k_(n) are proportionality constants derived by multiple regression techniques, and (OD)₁, (OD)₂, . . . (OD)_(n) are optical absorption data.

However, using the present invention with temperature measurements for compensation, the following equation is utilized.

    % protein=k'.sub.0 +k'.sub.1 (OD).sub.1 +k'.sub.2 (OD).sub.2 + . . . k'.sub.n (OD).sub.n +k.sub.t T.                           (2)

Where OD's are the optical absorption data as in equation (1); T=the grain sample temperature; and k'₀ +k'₁ +k'₂ . . . k'_(n) & k_(t) are new multiple regression constants.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of sample temperature on optical readings utilizing a Trebor-90 instrument without temperature correction. The percent protein is plotted against the temperature in degrees C of the grain sample for three separate samples. The correct readings are shown at the right hand side of the graph which is approximately room temperature. Note the variations in certain samples, particularly the wheat sample-101, as the temperature drops.

FIG. 4 is a graph similar to FIG. 3 using this invention including the equation above and the commercial Trebor-90 instrument incorporating the temperature correction of this invention. Note that for all three samples, even with a substantial variation in temperatue, the readings are constant and correct.

As a nonlimiting example of the components utilized to construct this invention, the IREDs are commercially available from G.E. as 1N6264. The timer 50 is National Semiconductor NE555. The photodetector 56 is Silicon Detector Corporation SD444-11-21-251. The switch 52 is Harris Corporation HI1-5050. The amplifier 58 is Motorola UA741, the amplifier 60 is National Semiconductor LF355, the analog-to-digital converter 61 is from Analog Devices Corporation AD574KD, the mico computer 54 is an Intel 8085A system, and thermistor 48 is Sierracin/Western Thermistor 1M100-2C3. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for near infrared quantitative analysis providing for correcting wide temperature variations of a sample, the apparatus comprising:(a) means for holding a sample to be analyzed including at least a portion of a wall thereof being transparent to infrared energy, (b) a plurality of infrared emitting diodes positioned to transmit infrared energy toward the sample in the holding means, (c) means for sequentially pulsing the infrared emitting diodes, (d) a plurality of narrow bandpass filters between the infrared emitting diodes and the sample holding means to produce desired wavelengths required for quantitative analysis, (e) sensor means positioned to receive and sense infrared energy transmitted through the sample to be analyzed contained in the holding means, said sensor means producing a signal related to the infrared energy received thereby, (f) temperature measuring means positioned in the sample holding means to measure the temperature of the sample therein and to produce a signal related thereto, (g) computer means for receiving the signals from the sensor means and the temperature measuring means and combining them in a multiple regression equation to compensate for variations in sample temperature, and (h) means for reading out the results of the analysis from the computer means.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: switch means in a circuit between the output of the sensor means and temperature measuring means and before the computer means for providing a signal to the computer from the temperature measuring means and sensing means at least once each cycle of the pulsed infrared emitting diodes.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the temperature measuring means is a thermister.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising a timer for controlling the switch and the pulsing of the infrared emitting diodes to provide data produced from said sensor means and said thermistor in a cycle.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the reading out means includes a digital display operated by the computer in response to the result of solving the multiple regression equation.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the sample is an unground cereal grain. 